Wilma Parfitt, parent of a Bow Valley High School student, appealed a decision by Rocky View Schools’ Superintendent of Schools Greg Bass to allow busing options for nine Bragg Creek children to Cochrane. The board of trustees unanimously rejected the appeal, June 16.
The first denial was in Nov. 17 but Parfitt, whose son attends Bow Valley High School (BVHS) in Cochrane, was persistent. Buses currently drive to Banded Peak School in Bragg Creek and return to the Cochrane bus yard empty. Two buses, No.’s 623 and 950, pass River Heights Drive where BVHS is located at about 8:50 a.m. with school beginning at 9 a.m. Parfitt suggested one of the buses transport kids to BVHS.
“Our view is that the cost would be incremental and buses are travelling that route right now, it’s just that they’re driving without children on them,” said Parfitt at the May 5 meeting. “We need to remember that the purpose of buses is to transport kids to school, not drive by past schools empty.”
A clause within Rocky View Schools’ transportation manual states a school bus can only stop for a minimum of 10 students — one more than Parfitt was petitioning on behalf of. Trustees agreed it would be best to deny the change, saying it would look bad if they began bending rules. They did, however, agree to revisit the policy later since it was such a close call.
According to Bass, the change would have cost the school division about $11,830 a year based on current fuel costs.
Trustees agreed to introduce a flexible benefits to Rocky View Schools support staff to allow employees to tailor-make a plan right for them.
The school board’s benefit consultant, Jason Kolysher of Morneau Shepell, presented trustees with his research. At a June 13 meeting, 14 support staff attended and the information was well received, according to Kolysher.
“Although the numbers were small, it was a good mix and a pretty good cross section,” said Kolysher.
All staff said they would change at least one area of their current benefit plan. The plan will be implemented subject to receipt of pricing from benefit providers that is within the school’s budget.
Trustees voted unanimously to continue with plans to transition Ralph McCall School from a K-8 to a K-4. The reasons for the change is a projected lack of space for students by 2016. The decision was contingent on the approval of a new Sagewood Middle School, which was approved by the board at their Dec. 16 contingency meeting and later by the Province. The middle school is on track to open by September 2014.
The Sagewood Middle School will be built in Airdrie’s Williamstown community and will house grades five to eight. According to Airdrie Trustee Sylvia Eggerer, it will also remedy the lack of middle school space on the city’s west side.
Trustee Don Thomas said students and parents need to be made aware of the contingency plan.
“Not everybody knows about it. It’s crucial that we make sure that students and parents know what’s going on in advance and that we communicate the contingency plan to the parents and communities affected,” Thomas said.
Trustees gave unanimous approval to adjustments to the Langdon and Indus Schools’ attendance boundary as per the request of a local family.
The board was notified by members of the family that the boundary line that separates the Langdon School and Indus School attendance areas runs through their property. The east half of the property lies within the Langdon area while the west half lies in the Indus area. The family lives on the west side of the property and expressed concern that they were considered to be out of the Indus attendance area and aren’t eligible for home bus service. The family requested to have the boundary adjusted.
The board also voted to continue alternate bus services from Cochrane to Westbrook School and from Langdon to Indus School.
